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Create a 2-in-1 Flip Book

A 2-in-1 flip book is a book that features another story in the second half of the book. When you flip the upside-down, instead of a back cover, you see the front cover of the second book, and can open and read it!


Step 1: Create Files for Both Books

Ideally you already have this step done, and you're now just combining those books into a single book. But in case you haven't yet, here are instructions to help you through those steps:


Step 2: Prepare Interior PDFs

  1. It's very important that both of your interior PDFs have an EVEN number of pages. This will ensure that when we reverse the pages in the second book, the spreads don't get shifted out of order.

  2. The last page of each interior should say "Flip book over to read: [title of the other book]" (you can also add a cute graphic, like the main character from the other book)

  3. Download each interior PDF by going to Share → Download and make sure you choose PDF Print & Flatten. If you're uploading to Amazon KDP you can choose RGB, and if you're uploading to IngramSpark you'll need to choose CMYK.


Step 3: Rotate, Flip, & Combine!

Now that the interior pages are done, we can rotate the pages of the second book so they are upside-down, and put them in reverse order. I tried doing this manually and it was very tricky and problematic. So I created a tool to do it for you!

  1. Go to my Flip Book Creator

  2. Upload both PDFs

  3. Give your new file a name

  4. Download when done

  5. Make sure you preview your book to make sure all your spreads match up correctly! You can do this for free using SimpleBooklet. Note: Make sure you set your book in SimpleBooklet to "Link Only" by going to Share → Link Visibility: Link Only.


Step 4: Create the Cover

  1. Figure out the number of pages in your book by adding the number of pages in the first book plus the number of pages in the second book (or just count the number of pages in your new PDF)

  2. If you're publishing on IngramSpark, create your cover using the IngramSpark Cover Template Generator (video instructions) If you're publishing on Amazon KDP, create your cover using the Amazon KDP Cover Calculator (video instructions)

  3. Place the cover of the first book in your PDF on the right side of the cover (front cover)

  4. Place the cover of the second book in your PDF on the left side of the cover (back cover)

  5. Rotate the cover of the second book 180° so it's upside-down.

  6. Add a spine using a colored rectangle

  7. Generate a barcode for your book, so you can control the placement. I like to use the free one at CreatIndieCovers

  8. Place the barcode on the back cover wherever you'd like it

  9. Add a triangle to the upper-left corner with the text "2 books in 1!"

  10. Copy the triangle + text over to the back cover, rotate it 180° so it's upside-down, and put it in the lower left corner of the back cover (the upper-right corner if the book is flipped upside-down)

  11. Download the cover by going to Share → Download and make sure you choose PDF Print & Flatten. If you're uploading to Amazon KDP you can choose RGB, and if you're uploading to IngramSpark you'll need to choose CMYK.


Step 5: Upload & Publish Your 2-in-1 Flip Book!

Now your files are ready for publishing! Here are a few tips:

  1. Remember that if you're uploading this to Amazon KDP, you will have to check that box that says "My cover includes a barcode."

  2. For the name of the book, I found that a lot of these 2-in-1 books are named like this: [Name of First Book] / [Name of Second Book] for example, Platty's Perfect Day / Bitsy Bee's Bad Day

  3. If you're uploading to IngramSpark, don't forget to run your PDFs through my PDF Converter to avoid errors.

  4. Questions? Email me! heather@heathercash.com




 
 
 

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